Same swim...even bigger barbel!
TWO months after landing a 16lb 3oz barbel from the River Lea, Andrew Hunter returned to the same swim to battle with this 17lb 6oz cracker.
The radiographer fished a chunk of meat alongside a PVA bag of chopped meat into a near-bank slack for his new personal best.
He said:
“The power of this barbel was immense. That swim has been busy with other anglers ever since I caught the first barbel, so to catch an even bigger one on my first visit back is a sign that it was meant to be.”
Andrew Hunter – 17lb 6oz barbel
Giant eel taken just 30 minutes after casting out!
ANGLERS targeting big eels by design often have to endure many blank nights before they taste success – but not Ian Pryke, who struck into this 7lb 12oz specimen just half-an-hour after casting out a deadbait!
When the Felixstowe all-rounder arrived at the Suffolk stillwater he had earmarked as having big-eel potential he could never have envisaged that he would land one of the heaviest of the season before he’d even settled into his swim properly.
Ian tells us:
“Just 30 minutes after setting up I had a slow run, picked up the rod and leaned into what was clearly a very heavy fish. It made several powerful runs that were difficult to stop, and I knew that it could only have been a huge eel on the other end.
“My legs were shaking when it surfaced and I brought it towards the bank – I had to stay calm to get it safely in the net. I was still shaking as I put it into the sling!
“When the needle on the scales edged round to 7lb 12oz I was in shock. It was the specimen of a lifetime.”
Ian’s eel demolished his previous PB of 3lb 8oz and took a roach tail fished on a size 6 barbless hook and a running leger rig.
Ian Pryke with the giant 7lb 12oz specimen eel
Drennan Cup winners immortalised in pencil by artistic specimen-hunter
DETERMINED to keep busy during the lockdown, Ash Bradley, a specimen enthusiast living in Worcestershire, reached for his pencil and paper and began recreating photographs of anglers with their prized catches.
Two-times Drennan Cup winner Dai Gribble was one of the first subjects, with Ash producing a stunning drawing of him with his record-shaking 20lb 10oz bream.
When Dai saw the high quality of work, he quickly snapped it up for his own collection.
“I’ve been drawing since I was a child, but the interest slowly waned as I grew up and other things took over my life,” Ash tells us.
“When I needed a way to keep my mind occupied while I was stuck indoors, I started dabbling with drawing anglers and their big fish. I showed a few friends my early efforts and they were really impressed. I decided to share my work elsewhere, and I was soon being commissioned by others, including Dave Owen, who asked me to sketch his 3lb-plus roach that recently won a Drennan Cup weekly award.”
Ash isn’t alone in combining his love of fishing and art, with Angling Direct offering kids the chance to download free pictures to colour in of fish in comical settings.
Examples of the entertaining images include a grinning perch preparing to chomp a terrified worm down and a greedy bream tucking into a pile of loosefeed.
The hope is that it will help inspire children to get out on the bank as soon as the current situation allows.
VOTE FOR YOUR 2019/20 DRENNAN CUP CHAMPION!
ONCE again it’s time to vote in Britain’s premier big fish competition – The Drennan Cup.
It has been another memorable year of specimen angling and there are a multitude of big fish catches to preside over.
Specimen anglers all over the UK recognise the significance of The Drennan Cup and that its prestige is down to one thing – you.
Only those who have won weekly Drennan Cup awards in the last five years get to decide who has been the best big fish angler in the UK over the last season.
Letters have now been dispatched inviting these anglers to vote to help determine this year’s winner.
Below you’ll find a list of the weekly winners from the past season (including multiple award winners), alongside details of how you can submit your votes.
Multiple award winners:
Richard Wilby: 8
For: 16lb 2oz bream, 3lb 6oz rudd, 11lb 11oz tench, 6lb 9oz eel, 3lb 2oz roach, 2lb 9oz roach, 3lb 2oz grayling, 1lb 1oz dace
Daniel Woolcott: 5
For: 3lb 4oz roach, eel brace of 5lb 10oz and 6lb 2oz, tench brace of 10lb 12oz and 11lb 11oz, rudd brace of 3lb 1oz and 3lb 10oz, 17lb 2oz barbel
Joe Royffe: 5
For: 3lb 2oz rudd, 15lb 10oz bream, 4lb 11oz perch, 1lb 8dr dace, 2lb 7oz roach
James Champkin: 4
For: Roach brace of 3lb 2oz and 3lb 3oz, 10lb 11oz tench, 3lb 2oz rudd, 15lb 9oz barbel
Dai Gribble: 4
For: 16lb 8oz bream, 5lb 12oz eel, 11lb 2oz tench, 3lb 8oz roach
Alfie Naylor: 4
For: 2lb 10oz roach, 3lb 4oz roach, 16lb 14oz barbel, 18lb 2oz barbel
Mike Lyddon: 3
For: 12lb 2oz tench, 5lb 9oz eel, 12lb 4oz tench
Paul Faint: 2
For: 4lb 6oz perch, 5lb 13oz eel
Andy West: 2
For: 18lb 2oz bream, five rudd to best of 3lb 1oz 8dr
Matthew Fernandez: 2
For: 12lb 8oz tench, 2lb 9oz roach
Christopher Menlesohn: 2
For: 16lb 4oz barbel, 9lb 1oz chub
Brett Longthorne: 2
For: 10lb 6oz tench and a 15lb 8oz bream, 16lb 6oz barbel
Adam Fisher: 2
For: 2lb 5oz roach, 3lb 2oz grayling
Roman Vann: 2
For: Haul of roach to 2lb 5oz roach, 17lb 12oz barbel
Simon Daley: 2
For: 16lb 13oz barbel, haul of 2lb roach to 2lb 14oz
Mike Staines: 2
For: 7lb 13oz chub, 15lb 12oz barbel
Andrew Knots: 2
For: 15lb 5oz barbel, 4lb 7oz perch
Alan Rio: 2
For: 11lb 15oz tench, 3lb 1oz roach
2019/2020 Drennan Cup contenders (by issue date)
April 9 2019
Carl Hill 3lb 2oz roach
April 16 2019
Mark Woodage 3lb 14oz roach
Daniel Woolcott 3lb 4oz roach
Stefan Jansen 38lb 2oz pike
April 23 2019
James Champkin roach brace of 3lb 2oz and 3lb 3oz
April 30 2019
Si Llewellyn 11lb 8oz tench
Paul Faint 4lb 6oz perch
May 7 2019
Andy West 18lb 2oz bream
Richard Wilby 16lb 2oz bream
Daniel Woolcott eel brace of 5lb 10oz and 6lb 2oz
Dan’s 6lb 2oz eel
May 14 2019
Rob Thompson 10lb 15oz tench
Steve Grinham 5lb 2oz eel
Simon Aldred 11lb 11oz tench
May 21 2019
Dai Gribble 16lb 8oz bream
Daniel Woolcott 10lb 12oz and 11lb 11oz tench
Dan’s 11lb 11oz tench
Brett Longthorne 10lb 6oz tench and a 15lb 8oz bream
Brett’s 15lb 8oz bream
Mark Rogers 12lb 14oz tench
May 28 2019
James Montier haul of double-figure tench to 12lb 2oz
Darryn Stolworthy haul of tench to 11lb 10oz
Lee Snow bream brace of 16lb 8oz and 17lb
Lee’s 17lb bream
Richard Wilby 3lb 6oz rudd
June 4 2019
Len Arbery 6lb eel
Lee McManus 16lb 4oz bream
Gord Burton 30lb 12oz pike
Kevin Durman 11lb 7oz tench
June 11 2019
Dai Gribble 5lb 12oz eel
Matthew Fernandez 12lb 8oz tench
Alan Rio 11lb 15oz tench
Fonz Howard 32lb 1oz pike
June 18 2019
Mike Lyddon 12lb 2oz tench
Justin Grapes 12lb 12oz tench
Tony Arbery 7lb 6oz eel
June 25 2019
James Champkin 10lb 11oz tench
Mike Lyddon 5lb 9oz eel
Andy Childs 3lb 3oz rudd
Sam Everist 7lb 15oz chub
July 2 2019
Andrew Knots 15lb 5oz barbel
Ben Fairweather 7lb 11oz chub
Paul Faint 5lb 13oz eel
Mike Lyddon 12lb 4oz tench
July 9 2019
Richard Wilby 11lb 11oz tench
Anthony Stockdale 16lb 6oz barbel
Kim Whiley 8lb 4oz eel
July 16 2019
Jay Elliot 8lb 2oz chub
July 23 2019
Dai Gribble 11lb 2oz tench
Richard Wilby 6lb 9oz eel
Trevor Stroud 3lb 15oz 8dr grayling
July 30 2019
Alfie Naylor 2lb 10oz roach
James Champkin 3lb 2oz rudd
Joe Royffe 3lb 2oz rudd
Kiran Nathan 5lb 1oz perch
August 6 2019
Scott Day 3lb 3oz rudd
Chris Mason 5lb 15oz eel
Martyn Welch 4lb 4oz perch
August 13 2019
Alfie Naylor 3lb 4oz roach
Richard Barlow 3lb 5oz roach
August 20 2019
Paul Nixon 16lb 2oz barbel
Phil Buckingham 3lb 7oz rudd
August 27 2019
Chris Carlyle 16lb 2oz bream
Richard Easom 16lb 3oz barbel
September 3 2019
Carl Salisbury 16lb 12oz barbel
Thom Hunt 16lb 2oz zander
September 10 2019
Andy West five rudd to a best of 3lb 1oz 8dr
Michael Coucom 17lb 5oz barbel
Ian Potts 17lb 1oz barbel
September 17 2019
Richard Wilby 3lb 2oz roach
Joe Royffe 15lb 10oz bream
Kevin Clark 14lb 12oz barbel (Wye Record)
Christopher Mendlesohn 16lb 4oz barbel
September 24 2019
Luke Agacy 16lb 10oz barbel
Matthew Fernandez 2lb 9oz roach
Chris Higham 15lb 6oz bream
October 1 2019
Christopher Mendlesohn 9lb 1oz chub
Scott Dethick 15lb 15oz barbel
Colin Hebb 2lb 10oz roach
October 8 2019
Paul Williamson crucian brace of 3lb 15oz and 4lb
Paul’s 4lb crucian
James Howes crucian brace of 4lb and 4lb 2oz
Dan Eaves perch brace of 4lb 2oz and 4lb 4oz
Justin Stoddart 16lb 10oz barbel
October 15 2019
Paul Gurton 3lb 3oz roach
Joe Royffe 4lb 11oz perch
James Champkin 15lb 9oz barbel
Daniel Woolcott rudd brace of 3lb 1oz and 3lb 10oz
October 22 2019
James Matthews 4lb 10oz 8dr perch
Gary Manders 16lb 9oz barbel
October 29 2019
Mike Staines 15lb 12oz barbel
Alfie Naylor 16lb 14oz barbel
Luke Reed 30lb 4oz pike
November 5 2019
Charlie Coppolo 4lb 4oz perch
Alan Rio 3lb 1oz roach
Brett Longthorne 16lb 6oz barbel
November 12 2019
Joe Atkinson haul of perch to 4lb 7oz
Simon Aldred 7lb 12oz chub
Ash Costa 4lb 12oz perch
Matt Roberts 33lb 5oz pike
November 19 2019
Simon Daley 16lb 13oz barbel
Joe Royffe 1lb 8dr dace
Richard Wilby 2lb 9oz roach
John Joyce 3lb 1oz 8dr roach
November 26 2019
Kevin Sanders 3lb 3oz roach
Graham Mann 16lb 12oz zander
Richard Earl 35lb pike
December 3 2019
Ivan Newton 36lb 12oz pike
Joe Royffe 2lb 7oz roach
Aiden Bordiuk 1lb 1oz dace
Alan Storey 2lb 11oz 8dr roach
December 10 2019
Colin Smithson 21lb 2oz barbel
Adam Fisher 2lb 5oz roach
Roman Vann haul of roach to 2lb 5oz
December 24 2019
Tim Dabrowa 3lb 7oz roach
Roy Jones 2lb 11oz roach
Mark Everard 1lb 2oz 8dr dace
Richard Miller 32lb 8oz pike
Alyssa Williams 34lb 14oz pike
December 31 2019
Matt Ward zander brace of 11lb 9oz and 17lb 9oz
Rob Taylor 2lb 15oz roach
January 7 2020
Richard Wilby 3lb 2oz grayling
Chris Lowe 4lb 10oz perch
Brian Hankins 7lb 10oz chub
January 14 2020
Tom Watts 15lb zander
Adrian Garside 16lb 10oz barbel
Jeremy Weitz 1lb 3oz dace
January 21 2020
Simon Baker 7lb 9oz chub
Adam Fisher 3lb 2oz grayling
James Ufton 18lb 10oz barbel
Clive Samuell 3lb 4oz roach
January 28 2020
Michael Pardoe 3lb 8oz grayling
Robert Bown 18lb 9oz barbel
Roman Vann 17lb 12oz barbel
February 4 2020
John Goble 38lb 2oz pike
Liam Bishell 16lb 13oz barbel
Vito Napoli 7lb 11oz chub
Simon Daley haul of 2lb-plus roach to 2lb 14oz
February 11 2020
Daniel Woolcott 17lb 2oz barbel
Mike Staines 7lb 13oz chub
James Hunt 3lb 4oz roach
Martin Jauncey 16lb 5oz zander
February 18 2020
Colin Douglas 18lb 13oz barbel
Steven Birt 20lb 7oz barbel
Mark Austin 4lb 12oz perch
Ian Harvey 7lb 15oz chub
Rob NG 7lb 15oz chub
Rob Malseed 33lb 4oz pike
February 25 2020
Richard Wilby 1lb 1oz dace
Dave Owen 3lb 6oz roach
Bob Copsey 8lb 12oz chub
Neil Hogg 42lb 4oz pike
Terry Theobold 16lb 7oz barbel
March 3 2020
Alfie Naylor 18lb 2oz barbel
Hugh Chappell 2lb 9oz roach
March 10 2020
Andrew Knots 4lb 7oz perch
Paul Scowen 2lb 7oz, 2lb 10oz and 3lb 9oz roach
March 17 2020
Dai Gribble 3lb 8oz roach
Gavin Barrett 2lb 11oz roach
March 24 2020
Robin Cave 9lb chub
Garth Sykes 18lb 3oz barbel
David Herrin 17lb 5oz barbel
Warren Hammond 8lb 1oz chub
Raymond Ball 17lb 5oz barbel
March 31 2020
Phil Smith 3lb 8oz roach
Ed Matthews 33lb 8oz pike
Simon Ashton haul of perch to 4lb 6oz
Voting
Voting is based on a points system and you can make four choices when you submit your votes. Each of your choices will correspond to a different number of points awarded, as follows:
First choice: 4 points
Second choice: 3 points
Third choice: 2 points
Fourth choice: 1 point
The angler who receives the most points ultimately wins the Drennan Cup. The winner will be announced in the Tuesday April 28 issues of the Angling Times.
To submit your choices just email Angling Times News Editor Ian Jones at ian.jones@bauermedia.co.uk
Alternatively you can ring or text Ian your choices on 07587109011.
Remember, only weekly Drennan award winners from the past five years can vote. (We have your details so we can cross reference!)
You cannot vote for yourself and all votes must be submitted by midnight on Friday April 17. Any votes submitted after that date will not be counted.
Thank you all again for your help in making the Drennan Cup the most respected big fish competition in angling!
We look forward to seeing your catch submissions for the 2020/21 season.
AT
We are in a golden age for UK specimen fishing
BRITAIN’S big fish anglers have never had it so good, according to figures released this week.
Organisers of the country’s premier specimen fishing competition revealed they have handed out more weekly catch awards this season than at any time over the past 35 years.
The Drennan Cup has been the pinnacle of specimen fishing in the UK since 1985, with legendary all-rounders such as Terry Lampard and Matt Hayes among those to have their names engraved on the famous trophy.
This season, more anglers have picked up awards than ever before, but perhaps more importantly, the average size of each coarse species has continued to grow.
Drennan’s Ian Brooker said:
“The size and frequency of big fish caught this season is simply staggering. Fish are getting bigger and certain venues really seem to be in their prime. A good example is the River Trent, which this season has produced big barbel on a weekly basis, yet just 10 years ago we gave two awards for 15lb barbel from the Trent all season-long!”
So, why are our coarse fish getting bigger? Officials and experts alike believe there are a number of factors, including improved water quality and the use of more high-protein baits by anglers, behind the spike.
Desmond Busteed of the Environment Agency told AT:
“We know that fish populations are improving on rivers and this will give the opportunity for more fish to live longer. Plus the management of some stillwater fisheries gives species, like perch, a new opportunity to grow bigger.
“What’s also changed is the range of water that a potential record may come from when compared to the recent past. Today any number of rivers regularly produce large fish and the next record could come from any of them.”
“What’s more, over the past 30 years there have been significant improvements in water quality in rivers, along with changes in river management and improved habitat. And, for some species, the distribution of signal crayfish and the use of high-quality baits may provide additional boosts to the fish’s natural food sources.
“Of course, changes in our climate and higher average year-round temperatures may also play a role too.”
Some anglers also believe that the rise in information about ‘big fish hotspots’ on social media, along with anglers’ changing tastes in general, have also played a significant role in forming the ‘golden age’ of specimen angling. One thing’s for sure, there’s never been a better time to bag a personal best!
How the ‘specimen bar’ has been raised?
These are the smallest examples of each species to win a weekly award this season – are any of these in your local waters?
Roach: 2lb 5oz (23 awards given this season)
Pike: 30lb 4oz (9 awards given this season)
Tench: 10lb 11oz (16 awards given this season)
Perch: 4lb 2oz (10 awards given this season)
Bream: 15lb 6oz (9 awards given this season)
Eel: 5lb 2oz (10 awards given this season)
Rudd: 3lb 1oz (8 awards given this season)
Barbel: 14lb 12oz (Wye record) (21 awards given this season)
Zander: 15lb (4 awards given this season)
Chub: 7lb 9oz (7 awards given this season)
Dace: 1lb 1oz (4 awards given this season)
Grayling: 3lb 2oz (3 awards given this season)
